Some days, comfort is all you’re after when going from point A to point B on the roads.
You’d think your average behemoth SUV would provide that, but purveyors of certain other options are competing to provide ways to move about in an even more relaxed fashion.
Mercedes is a case in point. The manufacturer’s latest V-Class people mover and its electric counterpart, the EQV, take comfort – and, indeed, spaciousness – seriously. Gone are the days of shoehorning yourself inside and battling for leg room with your fellow travellers. This pair comes with liberal, relaxed seating for up to eight people, with the option to customise much of the internal space at will.
The German motoring brand showcased the newest versions of the V-Class and the EQV in Cannes on the French Riviera, and, at first, this might seem an odd place to invite testers to experience all the plus points these products have to offer. However, as soon as you arrive at a seaside location of this sort, you realise the manufacturer has made an entirely sensible decision – the V-Class and the EQV are all about fun and that part of the Mediterranean has jollity written all over it.
The thing is, these vehicles are not just for transporting people, they’re built to carry all the kit essential to wherever you’re headed, too.
It has become clear that the flexible seat configuration in Mercedes’s biggest people carriers makes both an ideal choice for carting around friends and family, in addition to any accoutrements they’re going to need. And, crucially, all in a rather more comfortable way than you might expect in, say, your average sedan.
Frankly, even the biggest SUV cannot compare to the space on offer in the V-Class or EQV.
Camper vans have, of course, been available for decades, but, during their heyday in the 1960s and '70s, they appealed to a very niche, outdoor activities-driven market (and anyone going to a rock festival, of course).
In the 1990s, however, manufacturers realised that people movers weren’t just for, say, the surfing fraternity – families were pretty interested in them too. As such, new arrivals in that period geared towards a more domestic market.
However, anyone who remembers them would probably agree the word “stylish” was not high up on the list of words drivers would have used to describe them.
The V-Class and the EQV have avoided this pitfall, though. On looks alone, they’re distinctly chic affairs from any angle and, when you get behind the wheel, neither feels at all like a miniature bus.
SPECS
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The driving experience is, in fact, a distinctly serene affair. The vehicles are big, so they obviously have power, but it’s not difficult to get some speed out of them. The acceleration is sufficiently frisky that you never get the sensation you’re being a burden to other vehicles, whether on the motorway or in the city.
Glorified vans are no longer the go-to. Both the V-Class and the EQV are cheery and practical options, and not something you'd feel the need to hide from your cooler acquaintances.
A lot of potential fun ahead, indeed, for those who buy one.
A confirmed Middle East regional price is still a matter of conjecture, but a ballpark figure north of Dh200,000 is probably a fair guess.
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Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
More on animal trafficking
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
RESULTS
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
England v South Africa Test series:
First Test: at Lord's, England won by 211 runs
Second Test: at Trent Bridge, South Africa won by 340 runs
Third Test: at The Oval, July 27-31
Fourth Test: at Old Trafford, August 4-8
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
SPECS
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